Fastening-inserting machine



Sept. 18, 1928.

Filed July 6. 19 4 Sheets-Sheet Sept. 18, 192& 1,684,390

G. GODDU FASTENING INSERTING MACHINE Filed July 6. 1920 4 Shoots-Sheet 2 MM I v 208 4/? 5M.-

Sept. 18, 1928.

G. GODDU FASTENING INSERTING MACHINE Filed July 6. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE GODDU, OF VINGHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA: CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON', NEW JERSEY, A .GQRPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FASTENING-INSE BTING MACHI E.

Application filed July 6. 1920., Serial No. 394,091.

This invention relates to fastening inserting machines of the type designed to handle previously formed fastenmgs and known as loose nailing machines.

5 Such nailing machines usually comprise a nail receiver in the form of a throat constructed to provide a nail receiving passage, a slotted raceway arranged to conduct nails from a suitable source of supply to a poin 1 adjacent to the nail receiver, a separator operating to deliver nails one at a time from the raceway to the passage of the nail receiver, a

driver, and an awl for feeding the work between successive nail inserting operations of 1 the driver. Machines of this t 'pe have been devised which will operate efficiently on nails having heads of ordinary size, but great difiiculties are encountered in the use of such machines on nails having heads of large size, 0 particularly when the heads of the nails are angular in transverse section and non-uniform in shape and size as in the case of certain species of nails, commonly called hobnails.

Objects of this invention are to provide a machine which Will operate more efiiciently on large-headed nails than will known machines, and which will also successfully handle nails, such as hob-nails, whose heads are not only of large size but are also angular in transverse section and irregular in shape and size. So far as applicant is aware, nails of the character last described have, heretofore, always been inserted by hand.

With a view to the attainment of these and other objects which will appear as the description proceeds, important features of the invention reside in improved means for delivering fastenings from a raceway and presenting them in position to be operated upon, for example, by means for inserting them into a piece of work. In the illustrated machine, the endmost fastening in the raceway, while enclosed by a fastening receiver, is isolated from the remaining fastenings by a separator of novel construction and operation and is then moved to the line of drive of the fastcnings by movement of the separator and the fastening receiver together substantially in line with the fastenings in the raceway. As shown, the fastening receiver is constructed to provide a chamber open .at one side, and the separator when it is advanced to isolate the endmost fastening in the raceway is disposed across the-open side of the receiver and co acts with it to constitute a substantially closed chamber about the fastening, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that the fastenings are withdrawn from the raceway under uniform conditions which preclude the escape of any of them from the machine and cause them to be properly disposed for the action of the driver.

Other features of the invention pertain to the provision of a fastening receiver mounted for to and fro movement between the line of drive of the fastenings and the means for de livering fastenings to the-receiver and a work feeding awl having its carrier mounted on the frame of the machine for movement independently of the receiver. In the illustrated machine the receiver is carried by a head mounted to swing in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the awl carrier, and the awl carrier is operated by mechanism distinct from the mechanism for operating the head but comprising an actuating element common to itself and the head operating mechanism. An important advantage arising from the provision of operating means for the awl carrier distinct from the means for operating the head is that the work feeding movement of the awl may be varied as desired without affecting the range of to and fro movement of the head. Preferably, and in the illustrated embodi ment of the invention, the means for varying the Work feeding movement of the awl is so constructed that in all positions of adjustment of such means, the awl terminates its work feeding movement in the line of drive of the fastenings.

The invention further aims to provide improved lneans associated with the fastening,

receiver for insuring that the fastenings will be driven straight into the work.

Although the illustrated machine will hereinafter be described with special reference to its use for inserting large-headed nails, it is recognized that the invent-ion is not restricted in its application to such nails, but is capable of being usefully employed in other ways, including employment for inserting nails of usual form. Accordingly, the scope-of the invention is not intended to be limited except as required by the claims.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description proceeds and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

iii

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a view in right side elevation of the upper portion of a nailing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a View in side elevation taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the nail receiver;

Fig. 6 is a view on an enlarged scale and partly in section of the lower end of the raceway and the nail receiver;

Fig. 7 is a view of one of the nail guides associated with the nail receiver;

Fig. 8 is a view of the separator;

Fig. 9 is a plan view partly in section on the line 99, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation on the line 101O of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 shows the upper end of the raceway and a knock-off device or clearer co-acting therewith;

Figs. 12 to 17 inclusive show another ma chine constituting a different embodiment of the invention designed for handling hobnails of certain types;

Fig. 12 is a view in front elevation;

Fig. 13 illustrates the nail receiver in perspective;

Fig. 14 is a section through the center of the nail receiver;

Fig. 15 is a view of one of the combined throat and nail guide members;

Fig. 16 is a view of the separator; and

Fig. 17 is a view in elevation and partly in section of the lower end of the raceway and the nail receiver.

The illustrated machine comprises a col umn 2 carrying a superstructure 4 on which the operating instrun'ientalities of the machine are mounted. The operating instrumentalities include a rotary hopper 6 constructed with internal flanges 7 and constituting a source of supply of nails in bulk, from which the nails are delivered to a raceway 8 stationarily supported on a frame member 10 rigidly bolted at 11 to the superstructure 4. The frame member 10 also supports the rotary hopper 6. The raceway 8 has connected therewith a plate 12 having an opening in its end nearest to the lower, delivery end of the raceway to receive an eccentric 14 on a stud bolt 16 extending forwardly from the frame member 10. The stud bolt 16 passes through a slot 18 in the plate 12 disposed to permit endwise adjustment of the raceway. The slot 18 is made of a width greater than the diameter of the bolt 16 to enable the delivery end of the raceway to be adjusted vertically. At its other end, the plate 12 is formed with an openended slot 20 through which passes a stud bolt 22. The slot 20 is so disposed as to allow the raceway 8 to be adjusted endwise, and the bolt 22 affords a fulcrum point for the plate 12 and raceway 8 when the delivery end of the raceway is adjusted vertically. The plate 12 and raceway 8 ma be secured firmly in any position in which they may be set by tightening the bolts 16 and 22. As shown, the raceway 8 comprises outer and inner bars 23, 24 (Figs. 9 and 10) clamped to each other and the plate 12 by bolts 25 (Fig. 2) and channeled horizontally adjacent to their lower ends to receive detachable plates 26 having curved upper surfaces constituting an elongation of the upper edge of the raceway and converging toward their lower surfaces beyond the bars 23 and 24 to form comparatively narrow tips on the delivery end of the raceway. As shown, the plates 26 are secured to the bars 23 and 24 by screws 27.

Rotation is imparted to the hopper 6 by a flanged gear 28 on the hopper with which meshes a gear29 on a shaft 30 rotatably mounted in bearings 31 and 32 on the frame member 10. Loosely journaled on the shaft 30 is a pulley 34 operatively connected by a belt 36 with a loose pulley 38 on the main shaft 40 which, in turn, is supported by suitable bearings in the superstructure 4. Keyed to slide on the shaft 30 within the bearing 32 is a sleeve 42 provided on one of its ends with a cone positioned for clutching engagement with the loose pulley 34 and normally urged into contact with the pulley 34 by a spring 44 coiled about the shaft 30 between a collar 46 fast on the shaft and a flange 48 on the adjacent end of the sleeve 42. Fulcrumed on thebearing 32 is a forked bell crank lever 50 having short arms 51 arranged to act on the flange 48 and a long arm 52 joined to a rod 54 mounted to slide on the frame member 10 and having a. finger piece 56 on its forward end positioned near the front of the machine so that it may be readily grasped and manipulated by the operator. When the rod 54 is drawn forwardly, the sleeve 42 is moved out of clutching engagement with the pulley 34 and, conversely, when the rod 54 is pushed back, the clutch is thrown in and causes the hopper 6 to be rotated. With this construction, the hopper 6 may be operated while the other parts of the machine are at rest in order to obtain an abundant supply of nails in the raceway.

Screwed to the outer bar 23 of the raceway 8 within the hopper 6 is a vertical plate 53 having its right-hand face Fig. 10) spaced from the center line of the slot of the raceway 8 by a distance slightly greater than half of the largest transverse dimension of the heads of the nails on which the machine is designed to operate. The upper edge of the inner bar 24 of the raceway is chai'ntered OH on its inner side as indicated at so that it extends from the center line of the slot of the raceway by a distance less than 1 alt the width of the heads of the nails, The up per end of the raceway 8 and the flanges T art the hopper 6 are so arranged with relation to each other that the major portion at the nails lifted from the hopper by the tianees are delivered against the inner face ol the wall or fall directly on the upper edae of the raceway. ll nails having; large heads; were allowed to collect on the upper end of the raceway. their heads would be likely to interlock thereby causing them to (2.0;: the raceway. In such an event. the collected nails not only would not themselves enter the slot of the raceway but would also prevent other nails from doing so. ll a nail is delivered on to the raceway 8 with its shank extending from the edge of the 1: coway so as not readily to enter the t of the raceway. it will fall quickly ire the raceway by reason of the narrow support p ovided for it by the raceway bars 23 ii 1. Consequently. nails are prevented from c llecting on the raceway in sutlieient numbe s to clog it. Nevertheless, by the use of the illustrated construction, the raceway may be kept adequately supplied with nailsv In order to remove from the race-w v nails whose shanks have not properly tlli't ed the raceway slot, I provide a knock-oft device slidably supported on the cover 6% of the raceway and comprising a bar ('16 having a enlarged portion (38 at its rear end to which is attached a. knock-oil plate 70, The cover 64 may be clamped to the plate 12 in 'arious positions of vertical adjustment by bolts 71 passing through vertically elongated slots in the cover. Movement is imparted to the bar ('16 by an arm 72 carrying a stud lilting into a recess 74 in the bar. The recess T4 permits the cover 61 to be adjusted vertically without, affecting the operative connection be tween the bar 66 and arm 72. The arm 2 is clamped on the forward end of a shalt journaled in l'icaringls 7S and 8" in the train member 10, and fast on the rear end ot the shaft is a bell-crank lever 82 having one of its arms 84; extending into the path oi movement of wipers 85 on the hub ol the gear 25%. The other arm 86 of the lever 82 has its end disposed to abut against an adjustable stop screw 88 threaded into the frame member to and is normally maintained in engagement with the screw 88 by a coil spring 9t) 2). The bar 66 is moved positively toward the delivery end of the raceway by the *ipers 85 and is snapped back by the spring 90 to an extent determined by the position of adjust inent of the stop screw 88.

The cover 6-1- is formed on its under side with a rearwardly extending project on 92 which is fitted into the enlarged portion (3%;

oi the bar 66 and CO-it-i'tS with it to define a space above the raceway ot' a shape and size corresponding substz'tntially to the shape and size of the heads of the ails to be inserted by the machine, the upper and central portion of the space being provided mainly by the projection J2 and the sides oi the space e ng bounded by the portion his. 'lhc plate is cut away from its lower edge to accord with the portion 68 and i'- fora-ell with prongs til estenrlin; rearwardiy i am i lower edge and overlying the upper ed rs ot' the bars 23 and. 2-4 of the rareway. The space between the prongs 9% is preferably only slightly wider than the heads of the nails being operated upon in order that the points of nails may not enter between the prongs and the head of the nail beneath the plate T0. in the absence of preventive means. a nail on the raceway mi 'hi" repose with its head against: the stationar end ot the projection 92 ot' the cover (ti out of the tield of action oi? the linorlr-otl' device and thus impede the movement of the nails down the raceway. To

prevent th the plate 70 is provided with a lug 9%; arranged to travel upon reciprocation ot' the knock-oil bar (3-? in an open-ended slot 9-8 in the projection 92. The plate 70 is rabbeted on the end of the bar (it; and is detachalr-lr secured to the bar tit; by a bolt 102. Constquently, if desired the plate 70 may be ren oved and another plate of form better suited to the particular lot of nails being inserted substituted for it. I

The nails are delivered singly from the raceway 8 to a nail receiver lttl mounted for to and fro movement on the superstructure 4 between the raceway and the line of drive o l the nails. As shown. the nail receiver is formed with a laterally projecting win; It)? screwed to the lower end of a head 10h supported for swinging moven'ient on the trout oi the superstructure about the shaft ill and secured in place on the an]ierstrnctiu'e t by clamps 108 in a manner which will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art. The nails are torred into the work bv a driver 10!) reciprta-ahle vertically in a rombined driver and i ail passage in the receiver. The driver bar 110 is mounted for rocipmcatiou in the head 1013. being elevated by a lifting ("1111112011 the sha it it) and a block '1 it on the driver bar to allow a nail to be introduced into the receiver 101 below the driver and be ing depressed by aw-pring operated arm lit; and linlt 1.18 to drive the nail. Since the ii lustrated devices ior etiectinrj driving" move ment of the driver bar are well known in the art. a more complete description 02' them is deemed unnecessary.

The nail receiver member 1520 (F at.

104 comprises a throat n ed to provide a ward the race way 55 to enable nails to we snecec. ivel intio (laced into the throat and a pair of guides into which nails drop from the throat. The guides 122 are chambered at 123 to provide a passage between them of a size to receive freely the heads of the nails to be driven. Above the passage 123, the guides are bev eled upwardly and outwardly as indicated at 124 to avoid all possibility of the head of a nail delivered to the throat coming into supporting engagen'ient with the upper surface of either of the guides. Below the passage 123 each of the guides 122 flares inwardly at 126 to a semi-circular notch 128. the notches in the normal positions of the guides afording a circular opening" large enough to recei \e the shanks of the nails but too small to permit the heads of the nails to pass through it. The guides 122 are piv otcd to the throat member on pins 130 and are nori'nally aeld together by springs In orner to prevent the nails from turning in the throat as they are driven, the outward movement of each of the guides 122 is arrested by a. stop 136 on the throat member after the guide has been moved through a distance slightly greater than half the width of the heads of the nails being inserted. Inasmuch as the points of the nails are centered in the opening formed by the notches 128 and the nails can pass from the throat only by etfecting substantially equal movements of the guides, they are. perforce, driven straight into the work.

The improper escape of nails from the delivery end of the raceway 8 is prevented by a retainer 138 pivoted on the cover 64 of the raceway and pressed downwardly by a spring 139. In the operation of the machine. the throat 120 is moved toward the raceway to av point such as to enclose the endmost nail in the raceway. To permit such movement, the throat recessed at 140 and 141 to receive the points of the raceway and the retainer 138 respectively. In order to isolate the endmost nail in the raceway from the remaining nails and to cause it to be presented to the line of drive of the nails upon reverse movement of the nail receiver 10-4. I ut ilize a. separator 142 movable with the swinginghead 106. Preferably. and as shown. the separator comprises a shank engaging portion 144 recessed at 145 and a head engaging portion 146. The separator is tixed by a screw or the like to a lever 148 (Fig. 4) fulcrumed on astud 150 on the head 106 and moved away from the line of nails in the raceway by a cam 154, on the shaft 40, rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. The separator is caused to enter between the endmost nail in the raceway and the next adjacent nail under the control of the cam by a spring 156. The path of the cam 154 is formed with a low portion an intermediate portion 160, and a high portion 162 for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

The work is supported in the use of the ma chine on a horn 164 (Fig. 1) arranged to be periodically depressed, to enable the work to be fed, by mechanism including a rod 165 operated by a cam 166 on the shaft 40. In order to guide the work as it is fed and to position it with reference to the fastening inserting mechanism, the machine is also equipped with an edge gage 167 of suitable design.

Preferably, and in the illustrated construct ion. the work is fed by an awl 168 carried by an awl bar 170 slidable vertically in a guideway in an awl bar carrier 1 2 fulcrumed on a shaft 174 journaled in bearings 176 and 178 on the superstructure 4 of the machine. Vertical movements of the awl to cause it to penetrate the work and to be withdrawn from the work are effected by a link 180 connected at one end to the awl bar 170 and at its other end to an arm 182 having its hub 184 clamped on to the shaft 174. The shaft 174 is in turn operated by an arm 186 fast on the shaft and carrying a roll riding in a groove in a cam 188 on the shaft 40.

The awl carrier 172 is operated in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of the head 106 to move the awl 168 into the line of drive of the nails to feed the work and to retract it from the line of drive. As shown, the movements of the swinging head 106 to traverse the nail receiver 104 between the raceway 8 and the line of drive of the nails and of the awl carrier 17 2 into and away from the line of drive of the nails are effected by mechanism including a common actuat ng arm 190 depending from a shaft 192 journaled in bearings 194 and 196 on the superstructure 4 and operated by an arm 198 having a roll riding in a groove in the cam 188. The arm 190 on its forward side is formed with a T-shaped groove 200 in which is slidably mounted the similarly shaped head of a sleeved block 202 threaded to receive a bolt 204 which may be turned against the inner surface of the groove 200 to clamp the block 202 against the inturned portions 206 of the arm 190 and thereby secure the block in any desired position of adjustment in the groove 200. Fitted over the block 202 within a slot 208 in the awl bar carrier 172 are recessed blocks 210 and 212 adapted to slide in the groove 208. To the end that any looseness due to wear or other cause between the blocks 210 and 212 and the walls of the slot 208 may be taken up. the outer wall of the slot is constituted by atriangular piece 214 (Fig. dovetailed into the main 1100! of the awl carrier and fixed thereto by a bolt 216 passing through a slot (not shown) in the piece. The connections between the arm 190 and the swinging head 106 are similar to those between it and the awl carrier 172, comprising a block 218 mounted for sliding adjustment in a T-shaped groove 220 in the arm 190, a threaded bolt 222 for clamping the block 218 in adjusted position in the groove 220, and recessed blocks 224 and 226 titted on the block 218 within a slot 228 in the swinging head. The outer wall of the slot 228 is formed by a piece 230 dovetailed into the head and secured thereto by a screw bolt 232 passing through a slot 234 in the piece so that any excessive looseness which may arise between the blocks 224 and 220 and the walls of the slot 22b may be eliminated. Manifestly, the range of movement of the swinging head 106 may be increased or decreased, as desired, by depressing or elevating the block 218 in the slot 228 and groove 220. It is contemplated, however, that adjustment of the block 218 will not he often necessary, after it has once been properly located in the setting up of the machine.

The arm 190 and its groove 200 and the awl bar carrier 1T2, pivot shaft 174, and slot 208 are so arranged that when the arm 190 has been swung to the limit of its movement to the left (Fig. 12) to carry the awl 168 into the line of drive of the nails, the groove 200 and slot- 208 are both vertically disposed. tonseqnemly, the awl 168 willalwaysbe properly registered with the line of drive of the nails at the termination of its feeding movement regardless of the position of adjustment of the block 202 in the groove 200. The centers of oscillation of the arm 190 and awl bar carrier 1T2. l1o'\ -'ever. are so disposed that when the arm 190 has been swung to the right {'l ig. 2). the groove 200 of the arm is positioned at a considerable angle to a vertical p ane through the axis of the block 202 on one side of the plane, whereas the slot 208 is positioned at a slight angle to the plane on its opposite side. With this construction and 5: rra ngement of parts, as clearly appears from Fig. 2, the extent of movement of the awl 108 from the line of drive of the nails may he appreciably increased or decreased, as desired. by adjusting the block 202 downwardlv or up\.'z-.rdly in the groove 200. It will be noted further that, inasmuch as the connections between the arm 190 and the swinging head 106 do not include the block 202, the amount of work feeding movement of the awl may be varied without affecting the tangent movement of the head 100.

The machine is provided with clutch mechauism 236 of a well-known type and designed to stop themachine always at a certain point in its cycle.

The manner of operation of the illustrated machine will now he described. The machine is stopped just subsequent to the driving of a nail, the parts being then in the relative positions seen in Fig. 2. he throat 120 and driver 109 are, of course, in driving position and the driver is down. The awl 168 is up and at the limit of its movement to the right. The separator 142 is in far enough to register the recess 145 with the open side of the throat so that the separator constitutes a wall across the open side of the throat and in position to prevent the escape of nails from the throat. The horn 164 is up. Upon the in itiation of the operation of the machine, the high part 162 of the cam 154 is brought into engagement with the roll on the upper end of the lever 148, thus causing the separator 142 to be fully retracted so as to expose the open side of the throat. Meantime, the awl 108 is depressed-to penetrate the work, the awl completing its downward movement just subsequent to the completion of the retracting movement of the separator. The driver is raised at about the time that the awl com pletes its downward work penetrating movement. The horn'164 is moved down as the driver rises, after which thehead 106, carrying the nail receiver 104, and the awl carrier 172 are moved to the left in substantially constant relation. Upon the completion of the movement oi the swinging head 106 and the awl carrier 172 to the left, the horn 164 is moved up, and, when it has substantially completed its upward movement, the awl 168 begins to rise. At the same time, the roll on the separator lever 148 comes into engagcment with the depressed portion 158 of the cam 154, thus causing the separator to be projected between the endmost nail in the raceway and the remaining nails. The separator completes its inward movement across the line of nails in the raceway about the time that the awl 168 is fully raised. The throat 120 and awl 168 are then moved to the right together with the separator 142. The roll on the separator lever 148 engages the dwell or intermediate portion 160 of the cam 154 at about the time that the nail is freed from the raceway, thus alining the recess 145 of the portion 144 of the separator with the nail and, in effect, withdrawing the separator from the nail so as to facilitate the discharge of the nail to the throat. The driver is then depressed to drive the nail.

A machine constructed as hereinbefore described will operate efiirientl'y on nails of widely varying forms both with respect to their heads and shanks. It is particularly well adapted, however, for operation on nails having headssubstantially circular in trans verse section (that is. in section taken at right angles to the axis of the shank of the nail), such as the various species of Hungarian nails.

In order better to adapt the machine to insert nails of certain special forms, some or all of the parts illustrated in Figs. 13 to 17 inclusive may be substituted for corresponding parts of the machine as hereinheiore described. For example. when it is desired to insert hob-nails having square heads. a separator 142 of the form shown in Fig. 16 is preferably employed. Such nails are usually very irregular in shape and non-uniform as to size. The heads of such nails are also frequently fluted as shown in Fig. 17. The shanks of hob nails are also usually rectangular in section including the portions adjacent to the nail heads which are received n the slot of the raceway. It is very diflicult to isolate such nails and to deliver them from the raceway into proper driving position. lVhen a separator is employed which engages the heads of the nails, it is likely not to pass through between the head of the endmost nail in the raceway and the next adjacent nail, but to engage a projecting angle on the head of the nail and tend to turn the nail. By reason of the shape of the nail shank, such turning movement causes the nail to cramp in the raceway so that it cannot be moved from it. For these reasons, the separator 142 is constructed to engage the shank only of a nail. Preferably, also the separator 142 comprises a thin plate provided with a flange 236 projccting from its upper edge in the direction of the line of drive of the nails and is recessed somewhat at 238 beyond the end of the flange. Flange 236 extends along the upper edge of the separator 142 toward its entering end, but terminates short of its entering end (as shown in Fig. 16) by a distance at least as great as or somewhat greater than the d ameter or width of the heads of the nails which the machine is to insert. The extent of projection of the flange 236 from the separator 142' is slightly greater than the amount of overhang of the heads of the nails from their shanks so as to compensate for the overhang of the heads of the nails and facilitate their discharge from the separator at the recess 238.

Preferably, also, when it is desired to insert hob-nails of the character above described, a nail receiver 104' constructed as shown in Fig. 13 is substituted for the nail receiver 104. The nail receiver 104 is similar to the receiver 104 except in the respects noted below. Pivoted to the nail receiver 104' by pins 239 are combined throat and guide members 240 normally pressed toward each other by leaf springs 24-2. \Vith this construction, the throat as well as the guides below is allowed to expand, which action is useful in case of the delivery to the nail receiver of a nail having an excessively large head. His desirable, therefore, when the machine is used for insorting nails having heads of varying sizes to equip it with a nail receiver of the form designated 104:. The nail receiver 104' is notched at 244 to receive the nail retainer, and the members 240 are cut away at 246 to receive the ends of the raceway 8. As shown, each of the members 240 has a projection 248 on its lower end extending toward the raceway, and upstanding from the projections 248 are lugs 250 spaced from the main bodies of the members 240 and co-acting therewith to constitute positive controlling and guiding means for the separator 142. The lugs 250 support the separator 142 against movement away from the nail receiver 104 in the vertical plane of the raceway 8. The flange 286 of the separator 142 fits into a channel 252 in the rear member 240, and the front member 240 is notched at 254 to receive the flange 236 when the separator 142 approaches the forward limit of its movement.

When the nails are delivered to the nail receiver 104 by a separator arranged for engagement with the shanks only of the nails, the raceway 8 and its cover should be constructed to control the heads of the nails in such a manner as to preclude them from turning about their heads, inasmuch as, in such an event, the nails probably would not be delivered to the nail receiver so as to enable them to be properly driven. In order so to control the heads of the nails and also to re tain control of the nails until they arrive substantially at the line of drive. the cover (A and retainer 138 may be replaced by corresponding parts 64 and 138 of greater projection from the raceway 8 than the parts 64 and 138. As shown, the nail receiver 104: is cut away at 256 to receive the end of the cover 64 when the receiver is moved toward the raceway 8, and the cover is forked at its end to receive the retainer 138 and the driver which passes just to the right of the retainer (Fig. 17). If need arises, the plates 26 may be detached from the bars 23 and 24 of the raceway 8 and other plates substituted therefor in order better to adapt the machine for operation on nails of the specific character which it is desired to insert.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a head mounted for to and fro movement on the frame, a fastening receiver carried. by the head for movement between fastening receiving position and a position in the line of drive of the fastenings, mechanism for operating the head. means for supplying fastenings to the receiver, means for driving the fastenings, an awl, a carrier for the awl mounted on the frame for movement independently of the head, and means for operating the awl carrler.

2. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a head mounted for to and fro movement on the frame, fastening inserting mechanism carried by the head, an awl for feeding the work past the fastening inserting mecha* nism, a carrier for the awl mounted or the frame for movement independently of the head, and means for operating the head and the awl carrier.

3. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a head mounted for to and fro movement on the frame, fastening inserting mechanism on the head including a driver, means for delivering fastenings to the fastening inserting mechanism, an awl for feeding the work relatively to the fastening inserting mechanism, an awl carrier mounted on the frame and movable independently of the head to carry the awl into and out of the line of drive, means for operating the awl carrier, and means for moving the head from the line of drive of the fastenings into and out of operative relation to the delivering means, in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the awl carrier.

4-. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a head mounted for swinging movement on the frame and carrying a throat and a driver, means for supplying fastenings to the throat comprising a raceway, means for operating the head to traverse the throat between the delivery end of the raceway and the line of drive of the fastcnings, an awl for feeding the work past the fastening inserting mechanism, an awl carrier mounted on the machine frame for movement independently of the swinging head, and means for operating'the awl carrier to move the awl into and out of the line of drive of the fastenings.

5. In a machine of the class t'lescribed, a frame, a head mounted for swinging movement on the frame and Carrying a throat a nd a driver, means for supplying fastening g's to the throat comprising a raceway, means for operating the head to traverse the throat between the delivery end of the raceway and the line of drive of the fastenings, an awl for feeding the work past the fastening inserting mechanism, an awl carrier mounted on the machine frame for movement independently of the head, and means including a common actuator for operating the head and the awl carrier.

6. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a head mounted for swinging movement on the frame and carrying a throat and a driver, means for supplying fastenings to the throat comprising a raceway, means for operating the head to traverse the throat between the delivery end of the ace ay and the line of drive of the fastenings, an awl for feeding the work past the fastening inserting mechanism, an awl carrier mounted on the machine frame for movement int ependently of the head, an arm interposed between the awl carrier and the head, and means associated with said arm for operating both the awl carrier and the head.

7. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a head mounted for swinging movement on the frame and carrying a this vat an a driver, means for s pplying fastcnings t; the throat comprising a raceway, means for operating the head to traverse the throat between the delivery end of the raceway and the line of drive of the fastenings, an awl for feeding the work past the fastening inserting mechanism, an awl carrier fulcrumed on the machine frame for movement independently of the head and provided with a slot, means for operating the awl carrier (on prising an arm provided with a channel adjacent to the slot of the awl carrier, and means movable in the slot of the awl carrier and the channel of the arm for operatively connecting the arm and the awl carrier, the arm and the awl carrier being so constructed and arranged that .the slot of the awl carrier and channel of the arm are substantially alined with each other when the awl is disposed in the line of drive of the fastenings so that the range of movement of the awl and, consequentiy, the ement of fe d of the vorlt between successive fastening insertions may be varied without alfecting the presentation of the opening made in the work by the awl to the line of drive of the fastenings.

S. In :1 machine of the class described, a frame. a head mounted for to and fro movement on the frame. fastening inserting mechanism carried by the head, means for delivering fastenings to the fastening inserting mechanism, means for operating the head to traverse the fastening inserting mechanism between the line of drive of the fastenings and the delivering means an awl, and means separate from the head for moving the awl in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of to and fro movement of the head to cause the awl to feed the work.

5). In a machine of the class described, a frame, a swinging head mounted on the frame, nail inserting mechanism including a driver Carried by the head, a nail hopper, means for delivering loose nails from the hop per to the nail inserting mechanism, an awl, mechanism fr swinging the head to traverse the nail inserting mechanism between the line of drive of the fasteuii ind the delivering means and for operating th awl in a direction sut-stantialiy parallei to the di 'ection of movement of the head to icrd the work, means for operating the awl in a path substautiaiig. perpendicular to the axis of swinging movement of the head to cause the awl to pierce and withdraw from the work, means for Q])Qi tll'lnfi the driver it a path si,ib:.-tantiaily perpendicular to the axis of swinging movement to drive naiis n the lliiib, formed by the awl, and means for varying the feed the worh by the awl without changing the er-ittnt of to and fro movement of the mend.

it). In a machine of the c ass d scrilwtl, a swinging head mounted for to and fro movement about a hori: a is. fastening inserting mechanism carried by th head. means for delivering loose fastening: from bulk to the fastening inserting mechanism. awl. means for operating the head to traverse the fastening inserting mechanism between the line of drive of the fastenings and the delivering means and for operating the awl in a direction substantially pa allel to the direction lit) of movement of the head to feed the work, means for operating the awl in a path substantially perpendicular to the axis of swinging movement of the head, and mechanism for varying the feed of the work by the awl without affecting the extent of to and fro movement of the head or the line of drive of the fastcniugs, said mechanism and said operating means beii'ig constructed and arranged to cause the feeding movement of the awl to terminate in the line of drive of the fastenings in all positions of adjustment of the mechanism.

11. in a machine of the class described, a frame, a hori'l'iontal shaft journaled in the frame, a head. mounted on the shaft for swinging movement. fastening inserting mechanism carried by the head including a driver movable in a path subslainially at right angles to said shaft, a h pper for loose fastenings, means for delivering loose fastenings from the hopper to the fastening inserting mechanism, worl; feeding means, mechanism for operating the head to traverse the fastening inserting mechanism between the line of drive of the fastenings and the delivering means and for operating the work feeding means, and means for varying the feed of the work without changing the extent of the to and fro movement of the head.

12. In a machine of the class described, a raceway for conducting fastenings. mechanism including a receiver for the 'lastenings operable relatively to the raceway into position to enclose the endmost fastening in the raceway and to move during movement of the fastening to the line of drive of the fastenings, and means for driving the fastenings.

13. In a machine of the class described, a raceway for comlucting fastenings, fastening inserting mechanism. means co-opcrating with the fastening inserting mechanism to isolate the endmost fastening in the raceway from the remaining fastenings, and means for operating fastening inserting mechanism and the isolating means in substantially the same direction to withdraw the endmost fastening from the raceway and move it to the line of drive of the fastcnings.

H. In a machine of the class described, a raceway for conducting fa stenings, fastening inserting mechani m comprisii'ig a fastening receiver and a driver, a separator for isolating a fastening in the raceway from the ren'iaining fastcningl's, and means for operating the receiver and separator snbitantially in the same direction to move the fastcnings successively away from the raceway to the line of drive of the fastenings.

15. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a driver, means for delivering fastenings from the raceway and presenting them to the driver, comprising a fastening receiver movable to enclose the endmost fastening in the raceway, and a separator operable to isolate the endmost fastening from the remaining fastenings while it is enclosed by the receiver.

16. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a driver, and means for delivering a fastening from the raceway and presenting it to the driver, comprising a fastening receiver constructed to provide a chamber open at one side to enable a fastening to enter the receiver and movable to a position to enclose the endmost fastening in the raceway and a separator movable across the open side of the receiver rearwardly of the fastening to form with the receiver a substantially closed chamher about the fastening until it is driven.

17. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a fastening receiver and a separator constructed to form substantially closed chamber about the endmost fastening in the raceway, means for operating said parts to cause the fastening to be withdrawn from the raceway to the line of drive of the fastenings, and means for driving the fastenings.

18. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a fastening receiver and a separator constructed to form a substantially closed chamber about the endmost fastening in the raceway, a retainer disposed for engagement with the endmost fastening in the raceway, means for operating the receiver and separator together to withdraw the fastening from the raceway, said retainer being yieldably mount-ed to enable the fastening to be withdrawn but operable to prevent the escape of other fastenings froin the raceway, and means for driving the fastenings.

19. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a retainer disposed for engagement with the endmost fastening in the raceway, a separator operable to isolate the endmost fastening from the remaining fastenings by thrusting the fastening adjacent to the endmost fastening away from the endmost fastening while the last-mentioned fastening is maintained in position by the retainer, means for moving the separator in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the nice way to remove the endniost fastening from the raceway, and means for driving the fastenings.

20. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a cover for the iacewa arranged to prevent escape of fastenings upwardly from the slot of the raceway, a retainer mounted on the cover and disposed for engagement with the endmost fastening in the raceway, a fastening receiver, a separator operable to isolate the endinost fastening from the remaining fastenings in the race way by thrusting the fastening adjacent to the endmost fastening away from the endinost fastening while the last-mentioned fastening is maintained in position by the retainer and co-acting with the receiver to form a substantially closed chamber about the endmost fastening, means for moving the receiver and separator in substantially the same direction to withdraw the fastening from the raceway and move it to the line of drive of the fasteuings, and means for driving the fastenings.

21. In a machine of the class described, fastoning inserting mechanism, means for delivering fastenings singly to the fastening inserting mechanism comprising a separator in the form of a thin plate having a flange extending towards its end to engage the shank of the nail to be separated, said flange terminating short of the end of the separator by a distance at least as great as the diameter of the heads of the nails to be inserted, and means for operating the separator in opposite directions, said separator being operable upon movement in one direction to isolate a fastening from adjacent fastenings in the delivering means and in the opposite direction to permit the passage of another fastening past the separator.

22. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a separator arranged for engagement with the shanks of fastenings in the raceway and formed with reduced portion adjacent to its leading end, and operating means for the separator constructed to advance the separator to carry the reduced portion across the line of the fastenings in the raceway and to isolate the endmost fastening from the remaining fastenings, said operating means being further constructed to cause a dwell in the reverse movement of the separator when the reduced portion of the separator has been moved into the line of the fastenings in order to facilitate the delivery of the fastenings from the raceway by avoiding interference by the separator with the heads of the fastenings.

23. In a machine of the class described, a fastening receiver, a raceway, a separator arranged for engagement with the shanks of the fastenings in the raceway and formed with a reduced portion adjacent to its leading end, means for moving the receiver and separator together in a. direction substantially parallel to the line of fastenings in the raceway to remove a fastening from the raceway, and operating means for the separator conconstrncted to advance the separator to carry the reduced portion of the separator across the line of fastenings in the raceway and to isolate the endmost fastening from the remaining fastenings previous to the move ment of the separator and the receiver to withdraw the fastening from the raceway, said operating means being constructed to cause a dwell in the reverse movement of the separator when the reduced portion of the separator has been brought intoline with the fastening in the raceway thereby facilitating the delivery of the fastenings from the raceway.

24:. In a machine of the class described, a fastening receiver constructed to provide a chamber open at one side, a raceway, means for operating the fastening receiver to enclose the endmost fastening in the raceway, a separator adapted to enter between the endmost fastening in the raceway and the next adjacent fastening to isolate the endmost fastening from the remaining fastenings and coacting with the fastening receiver to constitute a substantially closed chamber about the fastening, said separator being arranged for engagement with the shank of a fastening and being provided with a recess adjacent to its leading end, means for moving the fastening receiver and separator together to withdraw the fastening from the raceway, and means for advancing the separator along the open side of the fastening receiver previous to the withdrawal of a fastening by the separator and the receiver to isolate the endmost fastening and for moving the separator reversely to expose the open side of the fastening receiver to enable the reciver to enclose another fastening in the raceway, said last-named means being constructed to cause the separator to dwell in its reverse movement with the recess in register with the fastening to facilitate the delivery of the fastening from the raceway.

In a machine of the class described, a driver, and mechanism including a reciprocating separator formed with a flange terminating a substantial distance short of the end of the separator, said flange being positioned to underlie the head of a nail being separated and constructed and arranged successively to present nails having heads of angular transverse section to the driver in proper position to be inserted by the driver.

26. A separator for fastening inserting machines formed and arranged to be inserted between the endmost and the adjacent nail in a raceway, and comprising a plate having a thin entering end and a flange extending toward but tenninarting a substantial distance short of said entering end and positioned to underlie the head of a nail as it is separated.

27. A separator for fastening inserting machines formed and arranged to be inserted between the nail to be separated and the adjaoent nail in a raceway and comprising a shank engaging plate and a. flange, the plate having a thin entering end toward which the flange extends, said flange being positioned to underiie the head of a nail as it is separated and terminating at a distance from said entering end equal to or greater than the width of the heads of the nails with which the separator is to be used, and said plate having a recess near its entering end and beyond the ends of the flange.

28. In a machine of the class described, a driver, a raceway, a nail receiver mounted IEO for movement from the line of drive of the nails toward the raceway and back to the line of drive, means for delivering a nail from the raceway to the receiver upon movement of the receiver toward the line of drive, and means associated with the raceway for retaining control of the nail until it is moved substantially to the line of drive.

29. In a machine of the class described, a fastening receiver, a raceway, a separator adapted to enter between the endmost fastening in the raceway and the next adjacent fastening to isolate the endmost fastening from the remaining fastenings, said separator haw ing a portion spaced from its entering end and projecting from the separator in the direction of its movement in withdrawing a fastening from the raceway and'a reduced portion, means for moving the receiver and separator together to withdraw a fastening from the raceway, and operating means for the separator constructed to advance it to dispose the projecting part of the separator in engagement with the shank of a fastening prior to the withdrawal of the fastening from the raceway, to effect reverse movement of the separator at the end of the common movement of the separator and receiver to register the reduced portion of the separator with the fastening to facilitate the delivery of the fastening to the receiver and also to prevent escape of a fastening from the re ceiver, and then to impart a further reverse movement to the separator to permit another fastening to enter the receiver.

30. In a machine of the class described, a nail receiver, a raceway, a separator adapted to enter between the endmost nail in the race way and the next adjacent nail to isolate the endmost nail from the remaining nails, said separator having a portion enlarged in the direction of movement of the separator in withdrawing a nail from the raceway and a reduced portion, means for moving the separator in a direction substantially parallel to the line of nails in the raceway to deliver the endmost nail from the raceway to the receiver, and means for advancing the separator prior to the removal of the nail from the raceway to register the enlarged portion of the separator with the shank of the nail and for effecting reverse movement of the separator upon the delivery of the nail from the raceway to register the reduced portion of the separator with the nail, said enlarged portion being constructed to compensate for the overhang of the heads of the nails and thus to facilitate the delivery of the nails from the raceway.

31. In a machine of the class described, a fastening receiver, a raceway, a separator adapted to enter between the endmost fastening in the raceway and the next adjacent fastening to isolate the endmost fastening from the remaining fastenings, said separator having a flange extending therefrom in the direction in which the separator moves in withdrawing a nail from the raceway and to an extent to cause it to compensate for the overhang of the heads of the fastenings and a reduced portion between the flange and the entering end of the separator, means for mov ing the receiver and separator together away from the raceway in a direction substantially parallel to the line of the fastenings in the raceway to withdraw the fastenings succesively from the raceway, and means for ad vancing the separator prior to the removal of a fastening from the raceway to register the flange of the separator with the shank of the fastening and for ctl'ecting reverse movement of the separator upon the delivery of the fastening from the raceway to register the reduced portion of the separator wit .1 the fastening, so as to facilitate the delivery of the fastenings from the raceway by the sepsrator and also to prevent the escape of ms tenings from the fastening receiver while they are being driven, and means for driving the fastenings. i

In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a separator for isolating the endmost fastening in the raceway and delivering it from the raceway, a fastening receiver mounted for to and fro movement between the raceway and the line of drive of the fastenings and constructed and arranged to control the separator, means for operating the fastening receiver, and means for driving the fastenings.

In a machine of the class dcs raceway, a separator for isolating most fastening in the raceway and deliv ng it from the raceway, a fastening receiver 'mounted for to and fro movement between the raceway and the line of drive of the fastenings and constructed and arranged to guide the separator and maintain it against lateral movement, means for operating the fastening receiver, and means for (.riving the fastenings.

84. In machine of the class described, a raceway, separator for isolating the endmost fastening in the raceway and delivering it from the raceway, a fastening receiver mounted for to and fro movement between the raceway and the line of drive of the fastenings and comprising guides normally pro viding a passage between them of less dimensions than the heads of the fastenings, means for supporting the guides for movement away from each other to enable a fastening to pass between them, means carried by the uides for maintaining the separator in proper relation to the fastening receiver, and means for driving the fastenings.

In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a separator for isolating the endmost fastening in the raceway and delivering it from the raceway, :1 fastening receiver mounted for to and fro movement between the raceway and the line of drive of the fatenings and comprising a pair of guides normally providing a passage between them of less dimensions than the heads of the fastenings, means for supporting the guides for movement away from each other to enable a fastening to pass between them, lugs on the guides spaced from the bodies of the guides and acting to guide the separator and to maintain it in proper relation to the fastening receiver, and means for driving the fastenings.

36. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a fastening receiver formed to provide a chamber open on one side, said receiver being cut away at the open side of the chamber, means for moving the receiver between the delivery end of the raceway and the line of drive of the fastenings, a cover on the raceway having its end extended to the line of drive in the direction of movement of the fastenings from the raceway and adapted to enter the cut away portion of the receiver upon movement of the receiver toward the delivery end of the raceway, a separator for delivering fastenings singly from the raceway to the receiver, and a driver for the fastenings.

37. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a fa stcning receiver and a separator movable in the same direction to withdraw a fastening from the raceway and to move it to the line of drive of the fastenings, a cover for the raceway acting to prevent the escape of fastenings upwardly from the raceway and constructed to control the fastenings during their entire movement to the line of drive, and means for driving the fastenings.

38. A fastening inserting machine having, in combination, a stationary raceway, a swinging head, fastening inserting means carried by the swinging head, and a separator also carried by the swinging head and arranged for movement between the endmost fastening in the raceway and the fastening adjacent thereto when the head has been swung towards the raceway so as to move the endmost fastening from the raceway when the head is swung in the opposite direction.

39. A fastening inserting machine having, in combination, a stationary raceway, a head mounted for to and fro movement towards and from the raceway, and a separator mounted upon the head for nail separating movement transversely of the raceway and movable with the swinging head in the general direction of the length of the raceway to transfer nails from the end of the raceway to fastening inserting position.

40. A fastening inserting machine having, in combination, a stationary raceway and a separator constructed and arranged for separating movement transversely of the raceway, a throat, and means for moving the throat and the separator in the general direction of the length of the raceway to transfer nails away from the raceway to nail inserting position.

41. A fastening inserting machine having, in combination, a raceway, a throat, and a separator arranged to transfer fastenings from the raceway to the throat, the separator and the throat being mounted for movement relative to the raceway in the general direction of the length of the raceway.

42. A fastening inserting machine having, in combination, a raceway and a throat arranged to receive fastenings therefrom, the raceway and throat being arranged for relative movement in the general direction of the length of the raceway into and out of juxtaposition to facilitate the transfer of fastenings from the end of the raceway to inserting position in the opening of the throat.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE GODDU. 

